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| United States Patent |
5,653,460
|
|
Fogarty
|
August 5, 1997
|
Child stroller with a dual seating capability
Abstract
A child stroller with a dual seating capability comprising a stroller
having a frame formed of tubes with wheels on the lower extent thereof,
and with a first seat supported by the tubes for receipt of a child in the
seated position, the frame including a pair of laterally spaced angular
tubular members extending upwardly and rearwardly at an angle and then
with rearwardly extending portions in a horizontally disposed orientation,
the horizontally disposed tubes being of an extended length with forward
ends coupled to the upper extents of the angular tubular members, the
horizontally disposed tubes having at their rearward end generally
U-shaped handles for being held by an adult pushing the stroller, a
supplemental frame formed of a backpack having horizontal extents
positionable above the horizontally disposed tubes of the stroller and
being curved downwardly and inwardly to a location beneath the
horizontally disposed tubes of the primary stroller, a second seat mounted
with respect to the horizontal extents of the backpack for receiving
therein a child in a seated orientation; and the vertical tubes coupled to
the horizontally disposed tubes of the stroller, the vertical tubes having
at their lower ends wheels at a common elevational orientation with
respect to the wheels of the stroller.
| Inventors:
|
Fogarty; Margaret A. (Roo, Killoskehane, Borrisoleigh, Thurles, Co. Tipperary, IE)
|
| Appl. No.:
|
529763 |
| Filed:
|
September 18, 1995 |
| Current U.S. Class: |
280/642; 280/647; 280/658; D12/129 |
| Intern'l Class: |
B62B 007/06 |
| Field of Search: |
280/288.4,290,293,304.1,642,647,657,658,47.38,30
|
References Cited
U.S. Patent Documents
| 4542915 | Sep., 1985 | Wheeler, III et al. | 280/658.
|
| 4854607 | Aug., 1989 | Mandracchia et al. | 280/290.
|
| 4986564 | Jan., 1991 | Liu | 280/642.
|
| 5033761 | Jul., 1991 | Kelly | 280/47.
|
Primary Examiner: Camby; Richard M.
Claims
What is claimed as being new and desired to be protected by LETTERS PATENT
of the United States is as follows:
1. A new and improved child stroller with a dual seating capability
comprising, in combination:
a stroller having a frame formed of tubes with wheels on the lower extent
thereof, and with a first seat supported by the tubes for receipt of a
child in the seated position, the frame including a pair of laterally
spaced angular tubular members extending upwardly and rearwardly at an
angle and then with rearwardly extending portions in a horizontally
disposed orientation, the horizontally disposed tubes being of an extended
length with forward ends pivotally coupled to the upper extents of the
angular tubular members, the horizontally disposed tubes having at their
rearward end generally U-shaped handles for being held by an adult pushing
the stroller;
a supplemental frame formed of a backpack having horizontal extents
positionable above the horizontally disposed tubes of the stroller and
being curved downwardly and inwardly to a location beneath the
horizontally disposed tubes of the primary stroller;
a second seat mounted with respect to the horizontal extents of the
backpack for receiving therein a child in a seated orientation; and
vertical tubes coupled to the horizontally disposed tubes of the stroller
and pivotable with respect thereto, the vertical tubes having at their
lower ends wheels at a common elevational orientation with respect to the
wheels of the stroller.
2. A child stroller comprising:
a stroller having a frame formed of tubes with wheels on the lower extent
thereof, and with a first seat supported by the tubes for receipt of a
child in the seated position, the frame including a pair of laterally
spaced angular tubular members extending upwardly and rearwardly at an
angle and then with rearwardly extending portions in a horizontally
disposed orientation, the horizontally disposed tubes being of an extended
length with forward ends coupled to the upper extents of the angular
tubular members, the horizontally disposed tubes having at their rearward
end generally U-shaped handles for being held by an adult pushing the
stroller; and
vertical tubes coupled to the horizontally disposed tubes of the stroller,
the vertical tubes having at their lower ends wheels at a common
elevational orientation with respect to the wheels of the stroller.
3. The stroller as set forth in claim 2 and further including:
a supplemental frame formed of a backpack having horizontal extents
positionable above the horizontally disposed tubes of the stroller and
being curved downwardly and inwardly to a location beneath the
horizontally disposed tubes of the primary stroller;
a second seat mounted with respect to the horizontal extents of the
backpack for receiving therein a child in a seated orientation.
4. The stroller as set forth in claim 2 and further including pivot means
coupling the tubular components of the stroller for the collapsing thereof
for storage and transportation.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a child stroller with a dual seating
capability and more particularly pertains to transporting two children
simultaneously, one in a stroller and the other in a backpack releasably
supported by the stroller.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of strollers and backpacks of various designs and configurations is
known in the prior art. More specifically, strollers and backpacks of
various designs and configurations heretofore devised and utilized for the
purpose of transporting children by various methods and apparatuses are
known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural
configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the
crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of
countless objectives and requirements.
By way of example, the prior art discloses in U.S. Pat. No. 4,725,071 a
tandem stroller.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,728,112 discloses a tandem two seat child's stroller.
U.S. Pat. No. Des. 321,850 discloses the design of a tandem seat baby
stroller.
U.S. Pat. No. Des. 296,540 discloses the design of a twin stroller.
Lastly, U.S. Pat. No. Des. 328,047 discloses the design of a tandem
stroller.
In this respect, the child stroller with a dual seating capability
according to the present invention substantially departs from the
conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing
provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of transporting
two children simultaneously, one in a stroller and the other in a backpack
releasably supported by the stroller.
Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for
new and improved child stroller with a dual seating capability which can
be used for transporting two children simultaneously, one in a stroller
and the other in a backpack releasably supported by the stroller. In this
regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of
strollers and backpacks of various designs and configurations now present
in the prior art, the present invention provides an improved child
stroller with a dual seating capability. As such, the general purpose of
the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater
detail, is to provide a new and improved child stroller with a dual
seating capability apparatus and method which has all the advantages of
the prior art and none of the disadvantages.
To attain this, the present invention essentially comprises a new and
improved child stroller with a dual seating capability comprising, in
combination a stroller having a frame formed of tubes with wheels on the
lower extent thereof, and with a first seat supported by the tubes for
receipt of a child in the seated position, the frame including a pair of
laterally spaced angular tubular members extending upwardly and rearwardly
at an angle and then with rearwardly extending portions in a horizontally
disposed orientation, the horizontally disposed tubes being of an extended
length with forward ends pivotally coupled to the upper extents of the
angular tubular members, the horizontally disposed tubes having at their
rearward end generally U-shaped handles for being held by an adult pushing
the stroller, a supplemental frame formed of a backpack having horizontal
extents positionable above the horizontally disposed tubes of the stroller
and being curved downwardly and inwardly to a location beneath the
horizontally disposed tubes of the primary stroller, a second seat mounted
with respect to the horizontal extents of the backpack for receiving
therein a child in a seated orientation and the vertical tubes coupled to
the horizontally disposed tubes of the stroller and pivotable with respect
thereto, the vertical tubes having at their lower ends wheels at a common
elevational orientation with respect to the wheels of the stroller.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features
of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that
follows may be better understood, and in order that the present
contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course,
additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter
and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention
in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its
application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the
components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the
drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being
practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood
that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose
of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon
which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the
designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the
several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore,
that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions
insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present
invention.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and
improved child stroller with a dual seating capability which has all the
advantages of the prior art strollers and backpacks of various designs and
configurations and none of the disadvantages.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved
child stroller with a dual seating capability which may be easily and
efficiently manufactured and marketed.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and
improved child stroller with a dual seating capability which is of a
durable and reliable construction.
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and
improved child stroller with a dual seating capability which is
susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and
labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to
the consuming public, thereby making such strollers and backpacks of
various designs and configurations economically available to the buying
public.
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and
improved child stroller with a dual seating capability which provides in
the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages
thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages
normally associated therewith.
Still another object of the present invention is to transporting two
children simultaneously, one in a stroller and the other in a backpack
releasably supported by the stroller.
Lastly, it is an object of the present invention to provide new and
improved child stroller with a dual seating capability comprising a
stroller having a frame formed of tubes with wheels on the lower extent
thereof, and with a first seat supported by the tubes for receipt of a
child in the seated position, the frame including a pair of laterally
spaced angular tubular members extending upwardly and rearwardly at an
angle and then with rearwardly extending portions in a horizontally
disposed orientation, the horizontally disposed tubes being of an extended
length with forward ends coupled to the upper extents of the angular
tubular members, the horizontally disposed tubes having at their rearward
end generally U-shaped handles for being held by an adult pushing the
stroller, a supplemental frame formed of a backpack having horizontal
extents positionable above the horizontally disposed tubes of the stroller
and being curved downwardly and inwardly to a location beneath the
horizontally disposed tubes of the primary stroller, a second seat mounted
with respect to the horizontal extents of the backpack for receiving
therein a child in a seated orientation and the vertical tubes coupled to
the horizontally disposed tubes of the stroller, the vertical tubes having
at their lower ends wheels at a common elevational orientation with
respect to the wheels of the stroller.
These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various
features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with
particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this
disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating
advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should
be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there
is illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set
forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the
following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference
to the annexed drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is a perspective illustration of the preferred embodiment of the
child stroller with a dual seating capability constructed in accordance
with the principles of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the apparatus of the prior Figure.
FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the apparatus of the prior Figures but
in a folded orientation.
Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several
views of the drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIG. 1 thereof, a
new and improved child stroller with a dual seating capability embodying
the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally
designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.
The present invention, the new and improved child stroller with a dual
seating capability, is comprised of a plurality of components. Such
components in their broadest context include a stroller, a supplemental
frame formed of a backpack, a second seat and vertical tubes. Such
components are individually configured and correlated with respect to each
other so as to attain the desired objective.
There is shown in FIG. 1 the new improved child's stroller 10 with dual
seating capability. The primary component of the system is a frame 12.
Such stroller is formed with tubes 14 and 16 with wheels 44 on the lower
extents thereof. In addition, a first seat 34 is supported by the tubes.
The seat is for the receipt of a child in the stroller when in a seated
position.
The frame 12 also includes a pair of laterally-spaced angular tubular
members 16. Such members extend upwardly and rearwardly at an angle. They
then terminate in handles 20 formed in a generally U-shaped configuration.
Between the handles and the upper ends of the angular tubular members are
extended portions 22 in a horizontally-disposed orientation. The
horizontally-disposed tubes are of an extended length with forward ends
pivotally coupled to the upper extents of the angular tubular members. The
horizontally-disposed tubes have their rearward ends terminating in the
generally U-shaped handles. These are for being held by an adult pushing
the stroller.
Next provided is a supplemental lateral support formed as tubes 26, 28,
etc. for holding the side portions of the frame properly spaced laterally
with respect to each other. The lateral support 28 is pivotable to allow
separation of one side frame 22 from the adjacent side frame when being
collapsed. X-shaped support rod 32 beneath the seat adds stability to the
frame 12 of the stroller and security to the child in the seat 34.
Additional vertical legs 38 provide elevational integrity to the rear ends
of the horizontally-disposed tubes 22. A cross tube 40 maintains such
vertically-disposed tubes at their proper spaced orientation with respect
to each other. Such tubes 38 are pivotable at their upper ends with
respect to the horizontally-disposed tubes to facilitate the collapse
thereof. At the lower end of the vertical tubes 38 are wheels 42 at a
common elevational orientation with respect to the wheels 44 of the
stroller. As a result, the entire system is a six-wheeled vehicle with the
front wheels preferably formed as casters to facilitate the turning
thereof during operation and use.
Next provided is a backpack 48. The backpack includes a plurality of
support members including S-shaped rods 50 which are conventional for
supporting the backpack when use or not in the stroller. Struts 54 also
depend from the backpack to a lower extent and preclude a child within the
seat of the backpack from kicking an occupant therein front. A
supplemental transverse strap 52 maintains the S-shaped rods at properly
laterally-spaced relationships. In addition, horizontally-disposed frame
members 58 with padded supports are spaced laterally on opposite sides of
the backpack seat for being received by the horizontally-disposed tubes of
the stroller. In this manner, the backpack and child may be readily placed
within the upper rear of the stroller and removed therefrom.
A parent with two children being six months old and two years old often
have difficulty when out walking with both children. Having the younger
child in a stroller means the older child must walk all the time. When
folding up the stroller the parent must manipulate the action of folding
with holding the younger child in their arms and watching the older child.
As a nanny with experience of this situation, it is not easy regardless of
how easily the stroller folds. Carrying the younger child in a backpack
eases the situation but cannot be done for long period of time. Therefore,
I believe my idea for an alternative stroller would be good.
The front is the same as a basic stroller. However, the handlebars would
extend backwards and be designed to hold a backpack frame. The stroller
would remain balanced due to two more wheels extending from the handlebars
at the back. The backpack would be held in place by a strap linking the
two handle bars. When required, the backpack can be removed and placed on
the user's back. This provides an easier means of folding the stroller and
entering buses, etc. with the younger child secure in the backpack. A
special carrier bag could also be designed to hang from the handlebars for
those parents who have one child and wish to shop without fear of
overloading the stroller. Also, this stroller allows the older child to
get out and walk without fear of unbalancing the stroller with either the
baby or shopping on the back.
As to the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same
should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further
discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided.
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the
optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to
include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of
operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to
one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those
illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are
intended to be encompassed by the present invention.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the
principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and
changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired
to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and
described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may
be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.
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